Accused boy finds stability in lockup

Thursday

Sep 19, 2013 at 12:01 AMSep 19, 2013 at 9:57 AM

SAN ANDREAS - In some ways, the Valley Springs boy accused of murdering his 8-year-old sister has had a more stable living situation in the four months since his arrest than have his parents and surviving siblings, the boy's attorney said Wednesday.

Dana M. Nichols

SAN ANDREAS - In some ways, the Valley Springs boy accused of murdering his 8-year-old sister has had a more stable living situation in the four months since his arrest than have his parents and surviving siblings, the boy's attorney said Wednesday.

"He just turned 13. He's never been away from his family before," said Mark J. Reichel, one of the boy's attorneys.

"He's programming well enough," Reichel said, using a criminal justice insider term that means an individual is complying with jail or probation requirements.

Reichel and the boy both appeared Wednesday in Calaveras Superior Court for a brief hearing at which Judge John E. Martin agreed to another delay in setting a trial date.

Reichel told Martin that the defense had not finished its investigation and had yet to receive some items from prosecutors.

Calaveras County District Attorney Barbara Yook, appearing for the prosecution, said she agreed with the request and had discussed it with Reichel. Yook also noted that holidays at the end of the year make that a poor time to schedule a trial.

Martin set Nov. 13 as the date for the boy to return to court for trial setting. Reichel said he believes it will be possible to schedule the trial then for late January or early February.

The boy is accused of fatally stabbing his 8-year-old sister, Leila Fowler, on April 27. He was arrested on May 11 and has been held since then in a juvenile lockup in El Dorado County.

Meanwhile, his father, Barney Fowler, his stepmother, Crystal Walters, and siblings have struggled to find a stable home site.

"They essentially can't find any place to rent for what's left of the family," Reichel said.

Reichel said he blames anti-Fowler family discrimination by prospective landlords for the difficulties.

Reichel said that after reviewing most of the prosecution's evidence, members of the defense team still believe the boy is innocent of the crime and won't be convicted at trial.